Pemberton has always been full of potential, now it’s trying to marry that potential with a huge opportunity

She has less than 800 days to ready Pemberton for the great
Olympic opportunity, and nine bosses to answer to, in addition to the taxpayers
of Pemberton and Area C, as she steps into the brand new office of Economic
Development Consultant (EDC) for Pemberton and Area C.

With a host of meetings scheduled before her contract had even
been finalized, a boot-strapping budget, office space available in Whistler and
on Robson Square, and the first project in her in-tray, she’s hitting the
ground at full throttle.

In Pemberton, to be faced with a huge opportunity, but with
scarcely enough resources to exploit it, is not a new situation.

What is new is a critical mass of optimism.

Consider the specific opportunities on the books: An Airport
Definition Report commissioned by the Airport Authority to get a sense of the
hard costs and upgrades required to prepare the airport to receive regular air
services. An environmental impact assessment underway on the Ryan River
Independent Power Project. The Village of Pemberton investigating its own microhydro
project on Pemberton Creek. A Community Forest under negotiation. The newly
established Whistler 2020 Food Task-Force, set to partner Pemberton primary
producers with the Whistler market and its sustainability drive. Local
committees doing the groundwork on a Drug and Alcohol Rehab Centre, and a
Seniors’ residence and tiered care facility. Construction continuing on the new
Community Centre and library. The Child Care Centre filling up spots.
Developers working on a small lot subdivision for Silverthorne, and a small
acreage subdivision at Ravens Crest. Boundary expansion applications.
Five-thousand square feet of new commercial space, with residential above,
being developed on Portage Road. The international concert promoter Live Nation
proposing a multi-day European-style summer music festival for this summer. The
world’s largest private school operator, GEMS, pursuing an international
private school in Pemberton. Seventy-five members signing on to join the Track
Club, adopting a role as “the community that slides”, with the view to putting
local kids on the podium in 2014.

In the 18 months since
Chamber President Paul Selina made a presentation to council, urging them to
create a more welcoming
environment for new business, improve communication between business and
government, and employ an Economic Development Officer,
there’s been a shift in Pemberton — and it’s
starting to feel to many at the helm of Pemberton’s business community as if
the tide is coming in.